Mixed Zone Interviews: Real Madrid (H)

Borussia Dortmund kept their unbeaten streak at home against Real Madrid alive thanks to a late equaliser from Andre Schurrle, drawing 2-2 with the Galacticos on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening in Westfalenstadion.

Here’s what the head coach and the goalscorer had to say after the match (sources: BVB, Ruhr Nachrichten, Sky Germany):

(PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Thomas Tuchel: “We played a very strong first half with a lot of shots and chances. There were a number of good situations around the box where we didn’t play them out well enough to create even better chances. After the break we lost our access to the game after five minutes. It felt for a while as though we wouldn’t be able to turn things around, so we’re happy we showed character and believed in the equaliser.

… on the result: “We can learn a lot from this match. The Champions League is a very special stage. You don’t dare dreaming of it as a youth coach. We aren’t 100 per cent satisfied with the result but also far away from not appreciating it. It feels good to have come back from a deficit twice. But we feel like we could’ve done even better.

… on falling behind twice and the team’s reaction: “Real’s first goal came out of the blue, it was easier to cope with. Levelling the score a second time was the more impressive feat. We feel we’re competitive and the team showed that. I’m happy they showed so much courage. Twenty shots were precisely what we were looking for. I had a feeling at intermission that the team wasn’t happy with the result.

… on Schürrle: “The substitutes played a big part in the result. That’s a great feeling. We wanted to put a bit more speed on the pitch with Schürrle. He’s a player who needs to be very involved in practice to show his best performances. I’m very happy he managed to score that vital goal.”

Andre Schürrle: “We started really well, did good in possession and had the courage to play out from the back. We found the spaces but, at times, didn’t make the right choices in the final third. Real have great quality and played well themselves. It’s a good felling to come back twice against Real and do so well against them. We’re able to stand up to the big teams on every level. At my goal I just hoped the ball from Christian Pulisic would find its way to me. He played it in very well and I just hit pretty nicely. It’s always nice not losing at home. We won a point against our biggest rival for winning the group. We can be satisfied.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: “We have really young players, it was a great performances from us. ”